THE COURT OF INSANITY
We expect a verdict this month in the court-ordered proceeding in the Kercher murder appeal in Italy. (Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito were fully exonerated over two years ago. But in May 2013, the Italian Supreme Court inexplicably ordered the case back to an appellate court in Florence, ostensibly to answer questions which somehow vexed them.)
Most court observers agree that if the case is decided on the merits of the “evidence,” then Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito will be exonerated—again. But if evidence really mattered, this case would never have gone to trial in the first place.
That the Italian Supreme Court would question the Appellate Court’s strong exoneration of Amanda and Raffaele should not have come as such a surprise. A year ago, before the Kercher decision, the Supreme Court ruled in a case that an 18-year-old woman could not have been raped by her instructor, because she was wearing tight jeans, which can’t be removed without her assistance. She was therefore, according to the court, a willing participant in the sex—much the same as a bank teller with a gun in her face is an accessory to bank robbery.
“But,” you think, “Surely that was an aberration.” Oh, if only. The Supreme Court’s decision regarding Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito was the meat-in-the-sandwich decision between the “jeans prevent rape” decision, and an even more stupid (if that were possible) decision by the same court last month. In this newest atrocity, the high court overturned the conviction of a 60-year-old pedophile social worker for having sex with an 11-year-old girl—because, they said, “the girl was in love.” You can’t make this stuff up—and you wouldn’t want to.
We expect a verdict this month in the court-ordered proceeding in the Kercher murder appeal in Italy. (Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito were fully exonerated over two years ago. But in May 2013, the Italian Supreme Court inexplicably ordered the case back to an appellate court in Florence, ostensibly to answer questions which somehow vexed them.)
Most court observers agree that if the case is decided on the merits of the “evidence,” then Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito will be exonerated—again. But if evidence really mattered, this case would never have gone to trial in the first place.
That the Italian Supreme Court would question the Appellate Court’s strong exoneration of Amanda and Raffaele should not have come as such a surprise. A year ago, before the Kercher decision, the Supreme Court ruled in a case that an 18-year-old woman could not have been raped by her instructor, because she was wearing tight jeans, which can’t be removed without her assistance. She was therefore, according to the court, a willing participant in the sex—much the same as a bank teller with a gun in her face is an accessory to bank robbery.
“But,” you think, “Surely that was an aberration.” Oh, if only. The Supreme Court’s decision regarding Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito was the meat-in-the-sandwich decision between the “jeans prevent rape” decision, and an even more stupid (if that were possible) decision by the same court last month. In this newest atrocity, the high court overturned the conviction of a 60-year-old pedophile social worker for having sex with an 11-year-old girl—because, they said, “the girl was in love.” You can’t make this stuff up—and you wouldn’t want to.
There was no denial by the defendant that sex between the two had occurred. Never mind that the age of consent in Italy is 16 when the assailant is in a position of authority (and 14 years old otherwise.) The 11-year-old was in love! This is not some country bumpkin outlying court, this is a central, Supreme bumpkin court. This is the court with whom rests a sober decision on the verdict in the Knox/Sollecito appeals court. Perhaps the court considers an 11-year-old girl an adult because she and the court share the same level of maturity and reasoning power. I am stunned that this court is not burning witches.
Certainly, all informed, unbiased people have discovered that the Kercher murder is no longer about facts and evidence; it is about Italy’s legal system “saving face.” (Spoiler alert: It’s too late.) Unless the appellate judge in this instance has the strength of character possessed by the last appellate judge, Pratillo Hellmann, then anything is possible. But know this; anything but a complete exoneration is a political expediency, not a judicial finding.
While I hope that Amanda will not have to deal with a false conviction and the travel restrictions an unjust conviction might impose on her, I do not fear that she will ever spend another day in prison—anywhere. Even if we ignore the obvious problem of double-jeopardy (regardless of what the Italian judicial system calls it), no civilized country would extradite one of its own citizens on the basis of such contrived, illegitimate evidence, or at the behest of a such a backwards legal system—even if it derives from a country as modern, sophisticated and wonderful as Italy. My fear is for Raffaele Sollecito, an Italian citizen. As usual, the main people to suffer when a legal system goes bad are the innocent people in that country.
In the words of “The Great Emancipator” Abraham Lincoln, “With high hope for the future, no prediction in regard to it is ventured.”
Certainly, all informed, unbiased people have discovered that the Kercher murder is no longer about facts and evidence; it is about Italy’s legal system “saving face.” (Spoiler alert: It’s too late.) Unless the appellate judge in this instance has the strength of character possessed by the last appellate judge, Pratillo Hellmann, then anything is possible. But know this; anything but a complete exoneration is a political expediency, not a judicial finding.
While I hope that Amanda will not have to deal with a false conviction and the travel restrictions an unjust conviction might impose on her, I do not fear that she will ever spend another day in prison—anywhere. Even if we ignore the obvious problem of double-jeopardy (regardless of what the Italian judicial system calls it), no civilized country would extradite one of its own citizens on the basis of such contrived, illegitimate evidence, or at the behest of a such a backwards legal system—even if it derives from a country as modern, sophisticated and wonderful as Italy. My fear is for Raffaele Sollecito, an Italian citizen. As usual, the main people to suffer when a legal system goes bad are the innocent people in that country.
In the words of “The Great Emancipator” Abraham Lincoln, “With high hope for the future, no prediction in regard to it is ventured.”
THE "OPPOSITION"
There has always been a certain negativity about those who misguidedly believe Knox and Sollecito are guilty. Okay, let’s be real; with few exceptions, the group is malicious and hateful. They have promised violence, they have threatened lives, they have attempted to wreck careers and libel good people. They run the gamut from mean-spirited to simply psychotic. One attacked and tried to strangle his psychiatrist. Another is an accused stalker. Yet another claims to be Jesus Christ. These people wouldn’t be seated on juries, so why are we listening to them about evidence in the Kercher murder?
Recently, however, their actions fell to a new low. Deducing Amanda Knox’s love of animals by her website, some individual in need of psychiatric care posted a photo of a man holding the severed head of a cat. Threat? Maybe. Sick? Certainly. No wonder few of them will admit to their identity.
There has always been a certain negativity about those who misguidedly believe Knox and Sollecito are guilty. Okay, let’s be real; with few exceptions, the group is malicious and hateful. They have promised violence, they have threatened lives, they have attempted to wreck careers and libel good people. They run the gamut from mean-spirited to simply psychotic. One attacked and tried to strangle his psychiatrist. Another is an accused stalker. Yet another claims to be Jesus Christ. These people wouldn’t be seated on juries, so why are we listening to them about evidence in the Kercher murder?
Recently, however, their actions fell to a new low. Deducing Amanda Knox’s love of animals by her website, some individual in need of psychiatric care posted a photo of a man holding the severed head of a cat. Threat? Maybe. Sick? Certainly. No wonder few of them will admit to their identity.
THE STRAW MAN
I am always curious about how my website articles will be viewed by people around the World Wide Web. My recent article on investigations and dealing with the families of murder victims has opened to very polarized reviews, to say the least.
The article had over 1,000 individual visits in 12 hours, and I have received not a single comment critical of the article. In fact, it is likely the most well received article (judging by comments on the site) that I have ever written.
However, my wife has received many hateful comments as a direct result of the article. My curiosity knows no bounds—why are those people afraid to comment to me? I wrote it, not Michelle, and she does not relay their comments to me unless I ask. What is the fear in pushing the “reply” button on my site? I suspect that they are terrified of me having their IP information and E-mail address.
(Until recently, my wife believed that she could influence people of good faith by discussing and debating the “evidence” of the Italian courts. It is because of that belief and desire that she can be easily found on the Internet—where she is hit by the vilest and perverse comments I have seen. I admire her for her optimism, but I believe that now she agrees with me that her efforts conclusively prove the truth of Matthew 7:6.)
Typically, in the responses to the article (second hand, as they were) the opposition had created a straw man argument to the piece. That is, they argued against and criticized me for saying something I never did. They claim I criticized a member of the family of murder victim Meredith Kercher, and that I positively linked that family member with a prolific, mean-spirited blogger, “Harry Rag.”
Of course, I did nothing of the kind. I was careful to take no position on the true identity of the blogger, though I did criticize him. In my defense, the opposition has steadfastly maintained that this blogger is not a Kercher. Therefore, I could not have been criticizing a member of the victim’s family. I have not accused any member of the Kercher family of any wrongdoing. In fact, I stated that if they had, they should be afforded great latitude and mercy due to their pain.
Possibly, what I said that so infuriated the anti-Knox faithful is to point out that even those who have sustained great, unjust and grievous pain, are not excused from responsibility for their actions. This is not an opinion, this is not intended to be hurtful, this is simply truth against which no one of good will could argue. And once again, truth has caused a great disturbance in the anti-Knox ‘force.’
I am always curious about how my website articles will be viewed by people around the World Wide Web. My recent article on investigations and dealing with the families of murder victims has opened to very polarized reviews, to say the least.
The article had over 1,000 individual visits in 12 hours, and I have received not a single comment critical of the article. In fact, it is likely the most well received article (judging by comments on the site) that I have ever written.
However, my wife has received many hateful comments as a direct result of the article. My curiosity knows no bounds—why are those people afraid to comment to me? I wrote it, not Michelle, and she does not relay their comments to me unless I ask. What is the fear in pushing the “reply” button on my site? I suspect that they are terrified of me having their IP information and E-mail address.
(Until recently, my wife believed that she could influence people of good faith by discussing and debating the “evidence” of the Italian courts. It is because of that belief and desire that she can be easily found on the Internet—where she is hit by the vilest and perverse comments I have seen. I admire her for her optimism, but I believe that now she agrees with me that her efforts conclusively prove the truth of Matthew 7:6.)
Typically, in the responses to the article (second hand, as they were) the opposition had created a straw man argument to the piece. That is, they argued against and criticized me for saying something I never did. They claim I criticized a member of the family of murder victim Meredith Kercher, and that I positively linked that family member with a prolific, mean-spirited blogger, “Harry Rag.”
Of course, I did nothing of the kind. I was careful to take no position on the true identity of the blogger, though I did criticize him. In my defense, the opposition has steadfastly maintained that this blogger is not a Kercher. Therefore, I could not have been criticizing a member of the victim’s family. I have not accused any member of the Kercher family of any wrongdoing. In fact, I stated that if they had, they should be afforded great latitude and mercy due to their pain.
Possibly, what I said that so infuriated the anti-Knox faithful is to point out that even those who have sustained great, unjust and grievous pain, are not excused from responsibility for their actions. This is not an opinion, this is not intended to be hurtful, this is simply truth against which no one of good will could argue. And once again, truth has caused a great disturbance in the anti-Knox ‘force.’
TRUTH (continued)
The love of truth of those dedicated to the destruction of Amanda and Raffaele apparently knows no bounds. Unable to find truth in facts and actual websites, they have created their own truth. They have built a false “clone” of a Wikipedia page. Their knockoff deals with the Kercher murder case and is a fascinating read, if you’re into fiction.
The Wikipedia fake they created bears as much similarity to a real Wikipedia page as a $5 Rolex does to the real thing. Consequently many people will not notice that it is worse than valueless, and useless for even determining the time of day.
Conveniently, the site doesn’t have to stand up to any scrutiny but the authors.' He or she can say anything they want and not have pesky “editors” asking for attributions or proof. In short, it’s a great cancerous cyst of lies masquerading as a healthy organ. The authors then worked the system so that when “Amanda Knox” or similar topics are queried on the Internet, their site appears on as a response. It’s like a credit card number ‘phishing’ scam, except that they are attempting to steal two lives, not money.
Unsatisfied that this article was just sitting passively like a land mine, the group, (including that blogger I spoke of earlier, “Harry Rag,” who is not John Kercher, Jr. according to all these ‘truthies’) have forwarded this Wiki-knockoff to dozens if not hundreds of journalists around the world, attempting to influence…..truth.
No wonder the Knox-haters love the Italian Supreme Court so much.
The love of truth of those dedicated to the destruction of Amanda and Raffaele apparently knows no bounds. Unable to find truth in facts and actual websites, they have created their own truth. They have built a false “clone” of a Wikipedia page. Their knockoff deals with the Kercher murder case and is a fascinating read, if you’re into fiction.
The Wikipedia fake they created bears as much similarity to a real Wikipedia page as a $5 Rolex does to the real thing. Consequently many people will not notice that it is worse than valueless, and useless for even determining the time of day.
Conveniently, the site doesn’t have to stand up to any scrutiny but the authors.' He or she can say anything they want and not have pesky “editors” asking for attributions or proof. In short, it’s a great cancerous cyst of lies masquerading as a healthy organ. The authors then worked the system so that when “Amanda Knox” or similar topics are queried on the Internet, their site appears on as a response. It’s like a credit card number ‘phishing’ scam, except that they are attempting to steal two lives, not money.
Unsatisfied that this article was just sitting passively like a land mine, the group, (including that blogger I spoke of earlier, “Harry Rag,” who is not John Kercher, Jr. according to all these ‘truthies’) have forwarded this Wiki-knockoff to dozens if not hundreds of journalists around the world, attempting to influence…..truth.
No wonder the Knox-haters love the Italian Supreme Court so much.